‘Disrespected’: Geelong teachers to join statewide stop-work

The government has let down a generation of public school students, one Geelong teacher says.

Geelong-based Australian Education Union (AEU) member Amy King moved into the classroom after finding a love of knowledge sharing as a researcher.

The high school science teacher will join thousands of public school teachers in Melbourne on Tuesday 24 March as they strike for better pay and improved working conditions.

It’s action that Victorian teachers are not taking lightly, after more than eight months of negotiations with the state government.

“The Victorian public school system is incredibly underfunded, and we feel the need to stand up for the fact that we feel disrespected and our schools are underfunded,” King said.

“How are they expecting us to do our jobs efficiently and provide the best future for our students when we’ve got $2.4 billion missing from our funding?”

The AEU has released data showing Victorian teachers are paid $15,000 less annually than their New South Wales counterparts. Meanwhile, the public system is losing teachers to better paid positions in the private and catholic school systems.

Recent AEU surveys indicate public school teachers are working up to 12 hours unpaid overtime each week, something King says is not sustainable.

King reflected on her own experiences working late at night after her own child is in bed and over weekends.

“We put our heart and souls into teaching. Many of us would actually put up with the amount of work we have to do to be honest because we love the kids,” King said. “We love seeing them grow throughout the years.

“We just really want adequate pay and adequate conditions to provide the best opportunities for them.”

As educators of the next generations, King said everyone should be supporting teachers in their call for better conditions and pay.

“They send their kids to public schools, we are the lowest funded in the country and we are incredibly underfunded,” King said.

“The government is doing your children a disservice.

“I’ve had lots of messages from parents who are supporting us and I really feel like the community and parents need to be on our side because we are really fighting for their kids.”

King encouraged those who want to support the action to join the rally in Melbourne at Parliament House or contact their local state member.

“Come and rally with us in in Melbourne, wear red, and reach out to your local members and tell them how you want action in terms of getting better funding for our schools,” King said.

AEU members have been approved by the Fair Work Commission to stop-work for 24 hours on Tuesday 24 March after 98 per cent of members voted in favour of stop-work action.

Union members declined a 17 per cent pay offer from the state government last week, with Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly saying the offer was “completely unacceptable”.

Teachers, principals and education support workers have not walked off the job in 13 years.